So do I.. But if people are wondering if I'm a pro or not, no I am not at this time.. I was last year, but I had a bad year and lost my pro status.. You know I just had to many other things going on in my life I put pool last..

What is a pro in pool anyway? To me it's someone who makes a living at it, or a substantial part of their income is derived from playing and/or sponsorship. And it doesn't have to be tournaments. A road player qualifies.

It's just that in pool, as opposed to golf for instance, the status between pro and amateur is different. I'm certainly an amateur pool player but if I play in a tournament I'm entitled to the same pay-out as any pro entered in the same event. In a golf tournament if I'm entered as an amateur I am then not entitled to any payout. I think the pro/amateur thing in pool is more akin to the poker thing.

"It's not enough that you just have talent, you gotta have character too." - Eddie Felson

What is a pro in pool anyway? To me it's someone who makes a living at it, or a substantial part of their income is derived from playing and/or sponsorship. And it doesn't have to be tournaments. A road player qualifies.

It's just that in pool, as opposed to golf for instance, the status between pro and amateur is different. I'm certainly an amateur pool player but if I play in a tournament I'm entitled to the same pay-out as any pro entered in the same event. In a golf tournament if I'm entered as an amateur I am then not entitled to any payout. I think the pro/amateur thing in pool is more akin to the poker thing.

in my book, you are not a "professional" unless you are a member of a recognized professional association such as the WPBA.

If you are good enough to be a sanctioned professional and choose not to be so that you can hit the road and deceive people of your abilities... you are, in technical terms, a "waste".

I think if you are good enough and spend the same amount of time playing as a real professional who makes their livelihood through the sport and you don't go for the titles and upper echelon achievements, you are really misguided in some way. I know of a few guys like this that could be in the top 50 in the world but choose not to be so they can continue the hustle, I think it's sad.

in my book, you are not a "professional" unless you are a member of a recognized professional association such as the WPBA.

If you are good enough to be a sanctioned professional and choose not to be so that you can hit the road and deceive people of your abilities... you are, in technical terms, a "waste".

I think if you are good enough and spend the same amount of time playing as a real professional who makes their livelihood through the sport and you don't go for the titles and upper echelon achievements, you are really misguided in some way. I know of a few guys like this that could be in the top 50 in the world but choose not to be so they can continue the hustle, I think it's sad.

Can you really blame them? there is much more money huslting then playing in tournaments, It's tough to make a living playing in tournaments unless you're like top 25 in the world. Staying on the road they can make a killing.

in my book, you are not a "professional" unless you are a member of a recognized professional association such as the WPBA.

If you are good enough to be a sanctioned professional and choose not to be so that you can hit the road and deceive people of your abilities... you are, in technical terms, a "waste".

I think if you are good enough and spend the same amount of time playing as a real professional who makes their livelihood through the sport and you don't go for the titles and upper echelon achievements, you are really misguided in some way. I know of a few guys like this that could be in the top 50 in the world but choose not to be so they can continue the hustle, I think it's sad.

The definition of "professional" is making a living at a particular profession. But, when playing a pool tournament that is handicapped, a professional player are considered high level or top level players whether they may a living playing pool or not.

in my book, you are not a "professional" unless you are a member of a recognized professional association such as the WPBA.

If you are good enough to be a sanctioned professional and choose not to be so that you can hit the road and deceive people of your abilities... you are, in technical terms, a "waste".

I think if you are good enough and spend the same amount of time playing as a real professional who makes their livelihood through the sport and you don't go for the titles and upper echelon achievements, you are really misguided in some way. I know of a few guys like this that could be in the top 50 in the world but choose not to be so they can continue the hustle, I think it's sad.

Top 50 in the world huh? Are they named New York and Arizona? Gimme a break
Jason

Top 50 in the world huh? Are they named New York and Arizona? Gimme a break
Jason

I ran into a guy who fits this description a month or two ago. Nobody knew who he was until weeks after he left town and had destroyed a very good player gambling. Who knows maybe he is still on the road doing the same thing. He doesn't live in the US so most people have no clue what his name is here or how good he plays.

You have no idea what you're talking about. The days of "hustlers" roaming the roads "making a living" have been over for many years. You might get hustled by a better amateur player locally, but there's nobody making a killing playing the road.

Can you really blame them? there is much more money huslting then playing in tournaments, It's tough to make a living playing in tournaments unless you're like top 25 in the world. Staying on the road they can make a killing.

You have no idea what you're talking about. The days of "hustlers" roaming the roads "making a living" have been over for many years. You might get hustled by a better amateur player locally, but there's nobody making a killing playing the road.

I disagree. See my post above. The guy easily makes several thousand each weekend and it takes some serious work to find out who he is. By the time you found out who he is, he is long gone. He is from a country not known for pool and goes by a nickname.

in my book, you are not a "professional" unless you are a member of a recognized professional association such as the WPBA.

If you are good enough to be a sanctioned professional and choose not to be so that you can hit the road and deceive people of your abilities... you are, in technical terms, a "waste".

Isn't that called a "Hustler"?

When someone askes me to play some pool I dont consider that a deception no matter how good or bad they then play.
If i am greatly out skilled and have no chance of beating them I generally know it the first game. No Harm, No Foul.

I ran into a guy who fits this description a month or two ago. Nobody knew who he was until weeks after he left town and had destroyed a very good player gambling. Who knows maybe he is still on the road doing the same thing. He doesn't live in the US so most people have no clue what his name is here or how good he plays.

The very good player was not as good as he thought he was.
He destroyed himself with his greed.
I seen it here locally sometimes ... people that just know they can beat you and always try the double or nothing trick. Sometimes it backfires and they pay double.
I dont need but one or two games to know when I am out skilled on a pool table and there is no shame in quitting with some money still in your pocket.